Effect of Physical Therapy and Leech therapy on patients with knee osteoarthritis - An Experimental Study

Research Objectives: 1. To find out the effect of Physical therapy on pain, range, and disability in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis.
2. To find out the effect of leech therapy on pain, range, and disability in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
3. To investigate the effect of Physical therapy along with Leech therapy on pain, range, and disability in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis.
4. To compare the individual effect of physical therapy and leech therapy with the combined effect of Physical therapy along with leech therapy on pain, range, and disability in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis.

Design: Pre - Post Experimental Study design

Setting: Tertairy care hopital

Participants: Patients with knee osteoarthritis are assessed and diagnosed using the following criteria:
1. Age between 40-70 years
2. Had definite osteoarthritis of the knee as defined by the American College of Rheumatology without clinical evidence of rheumatoid arthritis
and systemic joint disease.
3. Kellgren/Lawrence stage II-III

They are included in the study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria after taking informed consent and institutional ethical clearance. Patients are randomized into three groups. One group received only leech therapy, the second group received only Physical Therapy and the third group received both. Pre and post-readings are assessed by the outcome measures VAS for pain, WOMAC for disability, and range of motion will be checked using a goniometer.

Interventions: Physiotherapy Groups received Range of motion, stretching, and strengthening exercises.
Leech therapy was given at the ayurveda unit of the institute by trained ayurvedic doctors

Main Outcome Measures: 1. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)-
2. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)
3. Universal Full circle Goniometer for knee ROM

Results: The study is still going on. We will be finishing the sample collection by the end of April. Appropriate Statistic analysis will be done after checking the normality of the data.

Conclusions: Once we have the results, the conclusion will be drawn.

Author(s) Disclosures: All the authors involved in the study declare that there is no conflict of interest.